Worlds Head Coach Bob Bowman on Men’s Relay Lineups: “The only goal is to win”

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

USA Men’s head coach for the 2023 world championships Bob Bowman spoke with the press after Wednesday night in Indianapolis, addressing the relay outlook after both the 100 and 200 free has been swum. Although the men’s 100 free was fielded by a lot of newcomers, Bowman is confident the team will put together a competitive relay. He also made it clear that no favoritism will be involved, with the sole priority being to win the race.

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Swammr
10 months ago

Bob is going to be focused on Leon the entire meet. Will screw the US and help France…

Swimming nerd
10 months ago

What makes you say that?

Jason
10 months ago

You need a male breaststroker because that’s the largest difference in time and you need a femal freestyler because that’s the least differnence in time. So yea, ur right, it just depends on what each country has at their disposal.

The Original Tim
10 months ago

I sure hope the US Worlds coaching staff got pointers from a Masters coach on how to put mixed relays together, or at a bare minimum, learned how to do basic math.

Swimfan
10 months ago

any thoughts on the women’s relay?

Sharkspeed
10 months ago

‘…it’s not gonna be that hard to do. We know how to do relays…’
LOL

Last edited 10 months ago by Sharkspeed
Mark O
10 months ago

GB men win both relays – end of

Mclovin
Reply to  Mark O
10 months ago

Do you want to bet something?

Mark O
Reply to  Mclovin
10 months ago

I bet that I’m right

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Mark O
10 months ago

It will be competitive. I would not lock GB into gold quite yet.

Mark O
Reply to  Philip Johnson
10 months ago

Lock it in buddy lock it in

`MIKE IN DALLAS
10 months ago

1. Being Transparent
2. Recognizing that winning is job # 1
3. And most important, the era of ‘The “Best’ don’t swim prelims is done!
I couldn’t agree more, esp. with # 3 — too many close calls in Tokyo.

RealSlimThomas
Reply to  `MIKE IN DALLAS
10 months ago

The caveat is if you bring a relay only swimmer (i.e. Ryan Held), then he has to race. He can’t come for a free vacation. That being said, I don’t think they should introduce random people to the prelim squad like they’ve sometimes done in the past – there would be no need to add Smith or Kibler in the morning.

Jason
Reply to  RealSlimThomas
10 months ago

Traditionally they have all the relay only guys race in prelims then bring in the top 2 guys from prelims along with the 2 individual qualifiers. So in this case, Lasco king held ress in the morning, then fastest two from those four along with Alexy and Giuliano, and I agree that this does not seem like a year where we can really add anyone else to the relay, other than foster to the 800 free relay but it’s because he scratched finals. Based on history, I think held gets the go ahead because I feel like he tapers towards worlds not trials, considering how much better he did at worlds than trials last year, but idk from the other… Read more »

Swimfan
Reply to  Jason
10 months ago

Foster would get consideration not just because he swam prelims… he’s been a clutch relay swimmer in the last two world champion gold medal 4×200 relays. (Budapest and Australia)

SwammaJammaDingDong
Reply to  `MIKE IN DALLAS
10 months ago

Definitely need to re-think the 6th position qualification for the team. All it takes is one “off” swim and everyone else not being perfect and Team USA is out of the final. Times are much closer now, and it’s only going to get closer as swimmers approach the physical limits of each stroke. At the 2000 Olympics, for the 400 Free Relay the difference between 1st and 8th during prelims was 5 seconds. At the 2020(1) Olympics, for the same 400 Free Relay, the difference between 1st and 8th during prelims was 2.8 seconds.

Sscommenter
Reply to  `MIKE IN DALLAS
10 months ago

I agree, I feel like this is low key calling out a previous mindset where the US is reliant on workhorse performances. It sounds like bowman is setting the table with ‘it’ll be the hottest hands at the meet’

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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